28 UFC stars and experts predict Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez: ”A weird fight”

The stylistically interesting featherweight title unification bout between reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski and interim champion Yair Rodriguez is one of the most anticipated of the summer.

Click “Next” to check out how UFC fighters predict the exciting title bout!

Max Holloway

Pick: 50/50

Former featherweight champion Max Hollway fought both Volkanovski and Rodriguez.

”Both are very weird guys,” Hollway claims. ”Alex is a certain height, certain size and you donät really get guys built like that. Yair is super crazy. This guy can touch your nose with his nose and kick you in the head. It’s going to be a weird fight, a fun fight.”

Aljamain Sterling

Pick: 50/50

Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling thinks Rodriguez can be successful if he uses his kicks well.

”My biggest fear in fightings has always been those guys that kicks really fucking hard. Those are the most dangerous guys to fight,” Sterling says.

Ilia Topuria

Pick: Volkanovski

Rising featherweight contender Ilia Topuria is dead certain that ”Volk” will remain the champion.

”Yair does not have many chances to get the win. Maybe a submission like against Josh Emmett, but I don’t think so,” Topurioa predicts.

Jan Blachowicz

Pick: Volkanovski

Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz thinks Volk will get it done come Saturday.

”Volkanovski, Blachowicz predicts.

Henry Cejudo

Pick: Rodriguez

Henry Cejudo thinks Rodriguez can beat Volkanovsko easley if he uses his kicks well.

”I think the toughest fight Volk will have is Yair. And I think Yair has the chance to actually beat him,” Cejudo says. ”I would hate to fight Yair Rodriguez.”

Cory Sandhagen

Pick: Volkanovski

Top ranked bantamweight Cory Sandhagen thinks it will be an even fight.

”I got Volk but I think it’s going to be close,” Sandhagen predicts.

Arman Tsarukyan

Pick: Volkanovski

Top ranked lightweight Arman Tsarukyan picks the reigning champion.

”Definitely Volkanovski. He’s the toughest fighter in 145,” Tsarukyan says.

Geoff Neal

Pick: Volkanovski

Top ranked welterweight Geoff Neal thinks Volkanovski will get it done on Saturday.

”I’m not going to sleep on Volk,” Neal says.

Arnold Allen

Pick: Volkanovski

Top ranked featherweight Arnold Allen thinks Volkanovski will get his hand raised.

”I think Volkanovski is too well schooled, too tactical, too fit. He’s going to dominate that fight,” Allen predicits.

Grant Dawson

Pick: Volkanovski

Grant Dawson is more than sure that ”The Great” will win on UFC 290.

”Alexander Volkanovski. Not even close,” Dawson says. ”I can’t imagine somebody that is the same as Alex beating Alex.”

Josh Emmett

Pick: 50/50

Former featherweight interim champion Josh Emmet is intrigued by the matchup.

”Stylistically it’s a crazy fight,” Emmet says. ”I’m looking forward to it.”

Anthony Smith

Pick: Volkanovski

Former light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith doesn’t believe there are many that can handle the reigning champions skillset.

”Volkanovski,” Smith predicts.

Nate Landwehr

Pick: Volkanovski

The tough-as-hell featherweight Nate Landwehr claims that if Max Holloway can’t beat Volkanovski, then Rodriguez won’t do it either.

”I just don’t feel like Yair’s going to get the job done,” Landwehr says.

Dan Ige

Pick: Volkanovski

Ranked featherweight Dan Ige gives credit to both fighters abilities but still thinks Volkanovski will get it done.

”If I have to pick I will go with the champ,” Ige says.

Sean Brady

Pick: Volkanovski

Sean Brady

”I think he beats everybode at 145 and most people at 155,” Brady says.

Kelvin Gastelum

Pick: Rodriguez

Former UFC middleweight challenger Kelvin Gastelum believes in Rodriguez.

”I’m not saying that this is going to be easy, I just think Yair is going to make it look easy,” Gastelum says.

Neil Magny

Pick: Volkanovski

Welterweight veteran Neil Magny believes that what the featherweight champion did against Islam Makhachev proves that he will win come Saturday.

”I think Volkanivski might be able to get that one,” Magny says.

Chris Curtis

Pick: Volkanovski

Chris Curtis thinks Alexander Volkanovski is a better fighter overall.

”Rodriguez, you know, cool kicks, what not. But I think Volkanovski, what he lacks in flash he makes up with his technical brilliance and fighting IQ,” Curtis says.

Drew Dober

Pick: Volkanovski

Lightweight powerhouse Drew Dober got Alex as the winner at UFC 290.

”Volkanovski, what a monster that guy is,” Dober says.

Mackenzie Dern

Pick: Volkanovski

Strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern has the champ as the winner come Saturday.

”Alex,” Dern predicts.

Diego Ferreira

Pick: Volkanovski

Diego Ferreira suspects that ”El Pantera” will have problems in the main event of UFC 290.

”I think Volkanovski,” Ferreira says.

Hailey Cowan

Pick: Volkanovski

Hailey Cowan thinks the fight can go either way but thinks Volkanovski will get the win in the end.

”I got Volkanovski,” Cowan says.

Max Griffin

Pick: Volkanovski

Max Griffin is impressed how Rodriguez won the interim title but thinks he will have a tough time against the reigning champion.

”Man, I got Volk,” Griffin says.

Jasmine Jasudavicius

Pick: Volkanovski

Flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius got the reigning champ as the winner.

”I think Volk, he’s so good,” Jasudavicius says.

Chase Hooper

Pick: Volkanovski

Chase Hooper is fairly sure that Volkanovski will get his hand raised at UFC 290.

”I think I’m taking Volk, I think he’s holding that title for a while,” Hooper says.

Marc-Andre Barriault

Pick: Volkanovski

Marc-Andre Barriault has Volkanovski as the winner.

”He’s the best right now,” Barriault claims.

Tim Elliot

Flyweight contender Tim Elliot is a huge supporter of ”El Pantera.

”I’m a Yair fan all the way so I go with Yair ,” Elliot says.

This is Alexander Volkanovski

• Age: 34
• Record: 25-2
• UFC record: 12-1
• Weight: 145 lbs (66 kg)
• Height: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
• Reach: 71 in (180 cm)
• Post-fight bonuses: 4

This Yair Rodriguez

• Age: 30
• Record: 15-3-1
• UFC record: 10-2-1
• Weight: 145 lbs (66 kg)
• Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
• Reach: 71 in (180 cm)
• Post-fight bonuses: 9

UFC 290 fight card

Main card

• Featherweight bout: Alexander Volkanovski (c) vs. Yair Rodriguez (ic)
• Flyweight bout: Brandon Moreno (c) vs. Alexandre Pantoja
• Middleweight bout: Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus du Plessis
• Lightweight bout: Jalin Turner vs. Dan Hooker
• Middleweight bout: Bo Nickal vs. Tresean Gore

Preliminary card

• Welterweight bout: Robbie Lawler vs. Niko Price
• Women’s Strawweight bout: Yazmin Jauregui vs. Denise Gomes
• Light Heavyweight bout: Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield

Early preliminary card

• Light heavyweight bout: Vitor Petrino vs. Marcin Prachnio
• Bantamweight bout: Cameron Saaiman vs. Terrence Mitchell
• Flyweight bout: Shannon Ross vs. Jesus Santos Aguilar
• Lightweight bout: Kamuela Kirk vs. Esteban Ribovics

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